Visualization of Fitness Orbits: Rare and Non-Rare Events at Agincourt DHSS

Wendy Rabotho, University of the Witwatersrand
Philippe Bocquier, Université Catholique de Louvain
David Sherwell, University of the Witwatersrand
Charles Lebon Mberi Kimpolo, University of the Witwatersrand

A statistical study on infant mortality at Agincourt positively, significantly links infant mortality with biological mother mortality while negatively, insignificantly links same with biological mother’s temporary out-migration irrespective of mother’s refugee status. Maternal mortality is a rare event whereas maternal temporary out-migration at Agincourt occurs frequently. This study extended the statistical study to determine whether the same effects can be visualized in fitness orbits. Mother death and out-migration as well as infant death were coded unfit. Resulting fitness orbits plotted on a unit square indicated a division of infant subgroups by mother’s refugee status. Maternal and infant mortality orbits appeared concurrently. This informed a re-look at the statistical analysis. Maternal out-migration and infant mortality orbits prompted ratio calculations proving the statistical findings. Processing time in producing fitness orbits was faster than statistical model fitting.